Dirty Little Secret

Today is Blog Action Day, where bloggers around the world are posting about the environment.

Part of me feels like a fraud for posting on this, as I’m not very green. I use disposable diapers (although if you use a diaper service cloth really isn’t much better) and I don’t unplug all of my appliances unless I’m going out of town.

I do recycle my bottles and cans and magazines. I drive a Subaru. I am definitely going to remember my canvas bags the next time I go to the grocery store. But I will never be a real tree-hugger. I can’t afford to shop at the organic grocery store. I do not like tofu or meatless hot dogs. I will never be talented enough to make the family’s clothes. I will never have the energy to walk everywhere. I do my part to stop global warming in small increments. Like by voting Democrat.

It all reminds me of how I feel about motherhood. I try (loving them completely, reading to them, avoiding angry outbursts, going on outings, etc.) but I’ll never measure up to my idealized version (mothers who don’t us TV as a helper, who only serve organic food and never get angry). Yet I also know that if every parent was able to try as hard as I do that the world would be a better place.

And the same is true for the environment. Maybe not all of us can erase our environmental footprints, but every time we support a green company or recycle a can we are making the world a better place.

Blog Action Day

going green